Childress man arrested for shooting at law enforcement

Childress man arrested for firing at officers during standoff,
7 years after attempted murder charge in Idalou

Oran Starkey was arrested Sunday night for Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant. He called 911 with a ruse that got officers to respond to a residence, where he barricaded himself inside for more than an hour, shooting at officers from inside.

The call came in just after 8pm on Sunday evening, to the Childress County Sher­iff’s Office. The caller, later identified as 46-year-old Oran Starkey, claimed that his mother was being beaten by intruders. He gave an address on US 83 near Texas 256.

Responding to the scene were the patrol deputy and members of the Childress Police Department. They were fired at from inside the residence.

Starkey called the Sheriff’s Office again, this time stating that he had barricaded himself inside, and that he was armed with an AK-47 rifle. He fired multiple shots at the officers before surrendering, after an hour-long standoff. He did have an assault rifle in his possession when he surrendered.

He was arrested on four counts of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant and was taken to the Childress Coun­ty Detention Center to await arraignment.

Officers searched the house after Star­key was arrested, and found it empty. Starkey’s mother was located, and found to be unharmed in another city.

Oran Starkey in 2010, when he was arrested for the attempted murder of a man who stopped to help him on the side of the road. KCBD Photo.

According to news reports from Lubbock Avalanche Journal and KCBD 11, the same Oran Starkey, 39 at the time, of Childress, was arrested for attempted murder in 2010 for shooting at a motorist near Idalou. The incident happened Friday, March 12, 2010 just after 1:15 in the afternoon.

Starkey apparently shot at a driver who pulled over, on US 62/82 near Idalou, to try and help him. According to the driver, later identified as Matthew Cisneros, Starkey appeared to be a stranded motorist. When Cisne­ros asked if he needed help, Starkey reportedly told him to wait, he might need a ride. Police believe Starkey then returned to his vehicle and retrieved two pistols. He fired at least eight shots at the good Samaritan’s vehicle, while Cisneros ducked down and threw the car into reverse, backing away before calling 911. Starkey was arrested a few minutes later.

As of press time, we were unable to find further trial information on the 2010 incident.